Beating anxiety without meds

[Tea1Sugar]

Who's with me?

I had a god awful trial of Citalopram last week. Two words - never again. So I'm awaiting CBT, I'm now taking vitamins, I've bought self help guides and I'm going to (attempt) start running. Anyone fancy joining for moral support?

Yay I am with you I took two doses of fluoetine and like you op never again, i took the last dose on tuesday and have only just stopped feeling sick and throwing up. Hideous. The Gp wants me to start on a lower dose of citalopram but I am not keen, if I can do without I will.

Am rereading this book www.amazon.co.uk/Anxiety-Panicking-powerful-self-help-suffering/dp/1500117927/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421956885&sr=1-2&keywords=anxiety and finding it so insightful and useful, I would really recommend you all read it!!

I will give it a go with the beta blockers over the weekend though, I've just got it into my head that I'm going to have some awful side effects

I have got a telephone consultation tomorrow morning as part of my referral for CBT (so they can work out what I would benefit from the most as far as I can tell). Has anyone else had one of these? I am getting anxious about it already, as I am not very good on the phone. The letter says it will be for 30 minutes... Which doesn't sound like they will just be asking a few questions and putting me on a waiting list quickly... What else do they talk about?! I am not sure I am ready to talk about the history of my anxiety yet...

I am going to see a psychotherapist next week which I am sort of looking forward to, am really hoping she will be nice and it will be helpful to me, the first session is free but its £45 a go from there on in

Worth it if it helps I guess.

Tea1 can I ask what side effects did you have with citalopram? I feel like no one believes how ill they made me, most people I know who have been on ADs seem to find them o.kay. My brother has taken propanolol for anxiety and he said it was useful but sometimes gave him stomach cramps (although that may have just been the anxiety I guess!)

I had beta blockers for a bad period of anxiety starting at uni and lasting till mid twenties - had another bad period late 20s and now at 35 have had a very bad year - currently not sleeping, frequent heart palpitations, even when I think I am calm, obsessive thoughts, health anxiety focussed on myself, DH and DC's practically in rotation! I have tried talking therapies in the past and different antidepressants - I did not get on well at all with counselling but I think the orientation / approach probably wasn't the right fit and it was making me feel worse.

Mixtape I think the book I have linked to above would really help you.

You sound similar to me, I had terrible anxiety age 17 - 20yo to the point of really being completely agoraphobic, at that time I honestly thought I was either dying or going mad!! Eventually got better by reading a lot of positive affirmation books (Louise Hay) and working in the most boring shop in the world.

I was then largely better for several years, struggled a bit at uni but managed, although was drinking quite a lot at that time. However the last few years (am now 36yo and a single parent to 8yo dd) a lot of the old thoughts and worries have crept back in.

All my anxiety stems from a irrational fear of soiling myself in public, this happened to me once (when I was 17 funnily enough ) and that one fear pretty much ruined large chunks of my adult life. I also worry about other things but the fear of needing the toilet and there not being one can be overwhelming. I know it sounds ridiculous and the rational part of my brain knows that even if the worst happened I would cope, yes it would be awful and embarrassing but I would cope!!

Anyway sorry am waffling on!!

Whispers I recently had a phone consultation. Is it 'Time To Talk'. I
was sent a form to fill in with questions relating to mood and anxiety symptoms and thus was discussed over the phone as an assessment. This is so they can work out what they can offer you. I had the first phone chat and then they made an appointment to phone me back with the results of the assessment.

Marking my place to come back later x

Thank you, orange. I haven't had a form with questions, just a letter to say I will need paper and a pen. I think I will make some notes beforehand just to take some anxiety out of the situation. I will probably end up doodling all over the paper just to keep myself calm

Thank you girliefriend - I will have a look at it. I definitely need to do something. I am really interested ed to hear your story - I have a phobia of being sick in public, after seeing a relative vomit on a table during a meal at a similar age to you. When I am having a bad episode, this comes back with a vengeance - I noticed recently that I was returning to old habits (checking wherever I am that I have an "escape route", having to sit near doors in whatever room I am in or in the end of the row)
I will have a look at the link!

Whispers - I had an initial phone assessment back in October, it took 45mins of questions, history and medical background. I still haven't had a first CBT session, they said around mid February then weekly for around 20 weeks. Also hoping counselling will start shortly, still on a waiting list for that too.

Girlie - Citalopram was hell on earth for me for 2 days. Insomnia, spaced out, skyrocketed anxiety, sweating, my pupils dilated. Awful. I thought I was either dying or going mental.

Thank you tea, that's useful will jot down my medical history too in case they ask me about that

Hi everyone

I'm reading all the posts, but just wanted to quickly reply to Bellini12. Regarding your sleep anxiety. I wholeheartedly recommend that book I mentioned up thread. It's called The Effortless Sleep Method by Sascha someone. I think it might help you. It really helped me, and my partner too xx

Morning!

Can I log on in here too? Signed off yesterday for 2 weeks with stress from work. No meds prescribed but ringing up later today for assessment and booking in for counselling. I was planning to take my sick note in today but when I woke up and thought about it the stress levels went through the roof again, so I'm taking someone with me and they're dropping it off for me. I feel ridiculous that I can't even face dropping a sick note off but then my dsis pointed out that the whole point of 2 weeks off is to stay AWAY from the work place so what I was thinking was a small step is a lot bigger than I thought! I'm planning to start doing yoga again, have started a new mind absorbing hobby and remembered today that I have the CBT for dummies book upstairs so I'm going to start that. My mind's all over the place at the moment though - keep forgetting even the simplest of things like putting the washer on or if the cat is in or out!

Thanks mix and tea I have woken still feeling sick from taking just 2 ADs (I took them mon and tues!!) Fed up as just want to feel normal and not constantly nauseous. The dr wants to try me on a lower dose of citalopram but am really not keen if I can get myself well by alternative means then I will!!

I am working on positive affirmations the Louise Hay one for anxiety is I love and approve of myself and I trust the process of life. I am safe helpful for when the brain is ticking over or I start worrying about something.

Morning all. I just got through my telephone appointment, phew! It didn't feel like I was on the phone half an hour
Still haven't felt able to take the beta blockers, will see how I go over the weekend, I have a GP appointment on Monday, so will talk to her about them then if I have still not managed it :(

I spoke to my gp about this ongoing nausea, she wasn't terribly sympathetic really. Her advice was not to eat anything for 24 hours oh well all this throwing up is good for the waist line I suppose.

She did also say I needed to go and see them on Monday if no better, I really hope I do feel better.

ahhh I could scream!! Finally got an appt for CBT and it's on a Friday, it'll mean commiting to the same slot every Friday for 20+ weeks and come next month my maternity leave runs out and I'll be back to work Wednesday- Friday. Back on the list to wait for a Monday/Tuesday slot

Thanks for the book recommendation urchin I've ordered it so will get it next week. I've also ordered the book about panic though I have read a lot on this in the past, it does help to see it reaffirmed in black and white though. Despite a good day yesterday, I couldn't sleep again last night even though I was nice and calm. Ended up taking half a sleeping tablet. They're going to run out soon and I doubt the Dr will be keen to give me more. Need to find a proper solution. I feel pretty dreadful today (not sure if I'm coming down with something but have a huge headache).

Oh tea, that's such a pain with the CBT date. Hope a slot comes up very soon.

Oh no, how frustrating, tea :(

When I had my phone call this morning, she actually discussed appointment times with me to see what was best and said I could discuss it with the therapist when I get to the top of the list. So I'm hoping they will be a bit more flexible here. She said it was about an 8 week wait for a 12 week course. Funny how it is different in different places!

Oops, hope I haven't killed the thread

tea I had exactly the same reaction as you to Citaloprim. Two days of sheer hell. Eventually I was in such distress all I could do was cry.
I had previously tried CBT. Stuck it out for six sessions, found it made me worse not better.
I've got Propranolol to use situationally. It does help. You will likely feel a bit like you're underwater, and tired and dry-mouthed, but it really decreases the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic. I try not to take it too much as, although I don't have asthma, it gives me chest pains and a bit of a feeling of chest weakness if I do.
But I was able to get through a few work situations that I don't think I would have done without.
My CBT therapist hated me taking it, said it was a "safety behaviour". Whatever.
Take it at least an hour before a stressful situation as I can get more anxious as it kicks in.
I have also recently been taking 5 htp. If you're sensitive to medication, start with a small dose. I open a 100mg tablet and divide into thirds. It can make me a bit spacey the next day sometimes but it does definitely lower my anxiety levels although it's not a magic bullet if I encounter a stress situation. It doesn't combine well with alcohol, I find if I'm taking it and have a glass of wine, I feel odd and slightly agitated. But obviously avoiding booze is no bad thing if you're anxious anyway.
Totally agree with the exercise and running recommendations, now I just need to get back into the habit myself - it's been so snowy and icy here that it's not appealed.

Thank you Slaggy, that has been really useful as it is propanolol that I have been prescribed and have still not managed to take yet I have been prescribed a measly 10mg though, I still can't get past the fear long enough to take it I think it is feeling sick that I am most scared of. Or dizzy.

You can take more than one at a time. My gp wanted to give me the 40mg ones but I asked for the 10s. But she said I could take up to 40mg twice a day, and I know people who take them for high blood pressure etc sometimes have far higher doses than that.
I personally find 20mg a good dose. Any more than that I don't feel any extra benefits and the tiredness is worse.
Try it when you are relaxed at home. And remember if you feel a bit funny at first it does pass!

How are we all? It's our anniversary today so off out for dinner. I don't "do" crowds so bit scared but hoping it goes ok

Congrats Tea! Hope you have fun tonight. I always find I'm anxious before leave the house but once I get there its absolutely fine.

I'm feeling very anxious and I know it's because of these test results I'm waiting on. I feel sick to my stomach, and generally panicky. Finding it hard to deal with to be honest. Trying to keep busy but can't concentrate.